Packers TE Jermichael Finley was concussed by a hit from Bengals S George Iloka (43) Sunday. / David Kohl, AP

by Paul Dehner Jr. , USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Dehner Jr. , USA TODAY Sports

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Bengals safety George Iloka says he received a $15,000 fine from the NFL for a hit that concussed Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley on Sunday.

Iloka also said he doesn't know what the league expects him to do in such a situation. He and his agent appealed the fine which began with a hit while Finley was diving after a ball in the first half. Iloka made contact with Finley's head attempting to knock the ball out. Finley's dive removed him from the standard target area a split second before Iloka attempted to knock the ball out.

The league dubbed it a hit on a defenseless receiver. Iloka begs to differ.

"He was coming at me head first, and I was just trying to make a play on the ball and knock it out with my hand, and his head happened to hit my lower bicep area and caused a concussion," the second-year safety said.

This joins a long list of examples where player safety and intent of the rules intersect in a gray area. If a player lowers his head just before contact and suffers an injury, is that the defender's fault? Is it reasonable to expect a player to pull up one step before impact?

The league, trying to reduce concussions, errs on the side of caution. Safeties and corners are left wondering how they are supposed to avoid losing cash from their wallets.

"You can't do anything but let them catch the ball," Iloka said. "Unless there's a new rule that you have to let players catch the ball, you just have to eat that fine. I'd rather take whatever the fine is than let a guy make a big catch on third-and-whatever."

Iloka, a fifth-round draft pick in 2012, makes $480,000 this season and faces the possibility of seeing his check more than chopped in half.